Abstract: A method for reducing the content of a heavy metal in a mixture of solid plastic materials, wherein the mixture includes plastic flakes and there are at least two different colors of plastic flakes in the mixture. A percentage of each of two or more colors of flakes in the mixture is determined. A heavy metal content in the mixture based on the determined percentages is predicted. Whether the predicted content of the heavy metal in the mixture exceeds a pre-determined threshold is determined. If the predicted content exceeds the pre-determined threshold, a color sorting step is performed to obtain a subset of the mixture of plastic flakes, wherein the subset of the mixture of plastic flakes has a lower heavy metal content than the mixture prior to the color sorting step.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are roll fed air heated flotation ovens and related thermoforming systems, assemblies, and machines that enable the corrugation-free expansion of a gas impregnated thermoplastic web passing through an oven chamber (without use of a pin-chain assembly), as well as to related methods. In an embodiment, a gas impregnated thermoplastic web is conveyed and expanded through an elongated air heated oven chamber, wherein the elongated oven chamber includes a plurality of downwardly directed heated air nozzles positioned at regular intervals along and within the upper portion of the oven chamber, and a plurality of upwardly directed heated air nozzles positioned at regular intervals along and within the lower portion of the oven chamber, but staggered apart from the downwardly directed heated air nozzles such that the gas impregnated thermoplastic material web undulates in an up and down wavelike fashion, thereby minimizing sagging, bagging, puckering, and/or buckling of the web.

Abstract: Provided is a thickener composition comprising the polymerization product of an aromatic monomer, an amine functional monomer, and a hydrophobic, associative monomer. The thickener composition is capable of thickening various formulations at a pH of 6.0 or less. Also provided are personal care, household, and industrial formulations that include the thickener compositions.

Abstract: A polyimide tube composed of a polyimide resin composition in which 5 to 23.5 volume percent of boron nitride and 1 to 15 volume percent of an acicular substance are dispersed as a filler in a polyimide resin on the basis of the total volume of the composition, a method of producing the tube, a method of producing a polyimide varnish used for producing the tube, and a fixing belt including the tube as a base member are provided.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for producing a plurality of polymeric drawtape bags, the method including: a) dispensing a film of polymeric pliable material; b) producing a web of folded and sealed polymeric panels from the film, the web including a plurality of polymeric bags having a pair of drawtapes added into a pair of hems proximate a bag opening with a series of notches produced near lateral edges of each of the hems exposing the drawtapes with a series of lateral seals applied to the exposed drawtapes within the notches; c) measuring a relative placement of the series of notches with respect to the seals; and d) providing feedback to a notch production system to improve placement of the series of lateral seals of the exposed drawtapes within the notches by accurately locating the series of notches produced along the web.

Abstract: A support device for a cytocentrifuge sample container includes a support body including spaced edge fingers and a clip hinged to the support body. The clip has a latch for each spaced edge finger of the support body and edge members each including lugs engaging slotted ledges in the sample container.

Abstract: Heat transfer catheter apparatus and methods of making and using same are disclosed wherein fluid connection means is provided between the distal portions of two adjacent, thin-walled, high strength fluid lumens to define a closed loop fluid circulation system capable of controlled delivery of thermal energy to or withdrawal of thermal energy from remote internal body locations.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for medical treatment comprising bone, tissue or duct dilatation using inflatable dilatation elements together with apparatus and techniques for tensioning, stretching, folding, and/or wrapping the dilatation elements externally as well as in situ to facilitate insertion, positioning and withdrawal procedures.

Abstract: Provided is a fixing belt which has high thermal conductivity capable of achieving an excellent fixing property that can respond to the recent increase in printing speed, which has a proper degree of elasticity such that color toners are sufficiently enveloped so as to be melted and mixed, and which has excellent mechanical strength and durability. A fixing belt includes a tubular base member, an elastic layer disposed on the outer circumferential side of the base member, and a surface layer disposed on a surface on the outer circumferential side of the elastic layer, the fixing belt being characterized in that the elastic layer is composed of rubber into which a filler primarily composed of silicon carbide powder and a carbon nanotube are compounded, and the formulae 10X+3Y<750, 3X+30Y>170, X>10, and Y>0.1 are satisfied, where X is the percent by volume of the filler and Y is the percent by volume of the carbon nanotube in the elastic layer.

Abstract: A three-dimensional optical sheet is arranged between optical elements and a substrate for optically connecting the optical elements and the substrate and includes a sheet section, convex lens sections, and reflecting sections. The sheet section has first and second main surfaces. The convex lens sections are provided on the first main surface for collecting light. The reflecting sections are provided on the second main surface and change the direction of light traveling along the second main surface such that the light enters the convex lens sections.

Abstract: A formliner and master mold are disclosed. The master mold corresponds with the formliner, which includes a plurality of courses, each course having a plurality of pockets, each pocket sized and configured to receive a decorative brick, and a plurality of ridges arranged and disposed to separate the pockets. In the embodiment, each pocket has an angle of rotation in the range of about ?5.0° to about 5.0° and the angle of rotation of at least one pocket is other than 0°.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for medical treatment comprising bone, tissue or duct dilatation using inflatable dilatation elements together with apparatus and techniques for tensioning, stretching, folding, and/or wrapping the dilatation elements externally as well as in situ to facilitate insertion, positioning and withdrawal procedures.

Abstract: A grinding system includes a mortar container having an open top portion and a bottom portion having a first interior grinding surface and a wall portion interconnecting the top and bottom portions for defining a hollow interior collection chamber, a modular pestle assembly including a universal pestle shaft having at its proximate end an actuator portion extending above the top portion and at its distal end a mounting portion for receiving one of a set of pairs of matching tips and pestle collars, the pestle tip having a second grinding surface for engaging the first grinding surface, and a closure device sealingly engageable with the pestle assembly and the open top portion for sealing the container and the collection chamber between the grinding surfaces and the top portion of the mortar container.

Abstract: A metal alloy feedstock and method for metal injection molding is disclosed. The alloy includes at least two components, such as a first component and a second component. The first component has a first melting point and the second component has a second melting point higher than the first melting point. The first melting point and the second melting point match to the temperature gradient of the heated barrel of an injection molding machine whereby when fed into the injection molding machine the first component melts prior to the second component melts and enables the second component to solute into the first component. Additional components may also be used.

Abstract: A method for separating mixtures of solid materials includes incorporating a ferromagnetic particulate material into a mixture of solid materials and, after the incorporating step, separating the mixture of solid materials into at least two groups based on the magnetic and frictional properties of the different components of the mixture of solid materials. The ferromagnetic particulate material can differentially incorporate into or adhere to different components of the mixture of solid materials. The different components of the mixture have different frictional properties and, after the incorporating step, the different components have different magnetic properties.

Abstract: Disclosed are new compositions consisting of polyphosphonates and specific additive compositions that exhibit superior resistance to degradation due to exposure to air, high temperature and air, moisture or combinations thereof. Also disclosed are polymer mixtures or blends comprising these polyphosphonates/additive compositions and commodity and engineering plastics and articles produced therefrom. Further disclosed are articles of manufacture produced from these materials, such as fibers, films, coated substrates, moldings, foams, fiber-reinforced articles, or any combination thereof.